I did want to read a
couple passages directly from the book as
all of our other presenters have. There is
one rather poignant piece that I would
like to share with you. This comes at the
very beginning and sets the tone. It is a
bittersweet story about a young boy who
went off to war and returned home on a
litter, battered, bruised, and
dying.

Another section deals
directly with the good reverend's
experiences while stationed here in the
Fredericksburg area. That's neat for us as
residents because many of the stories that
are recalled in this book took place in
familiar areas. It makes the story even
more fruitful as we can directly relate to
the scenes in which his transcripts take
place. [Excerpts read from chapters 1 and
10.]

In closing tonight, I'd
like to say that this is a book that will
appeal to not just history buffs. It's a
wonderful testament to how faith can carry
us through the best and worst of times.
William Potter, a religious book reviewer
penned the perfect definition of this book
and I'd like to steal his quote here as I
could not have said it better myself.

He wrote: "Christ in the
Camp records much of the glorious work of
God in the hearts of many men in the Army
of Northern Virginia, but perhaps only in
eternity will we see that the true extent
of this six hundred page book is merely a
preface to what glory is to come."

As with all of our titles
in this program, here is a handout for
each of you that contains both a book
synopsis and ordering information for
"Christ In The Camp."

[SYNOPSIS: In the midst of
the titanic struggle of the American War
Between the States, a spiritual war for
the souls of men was waged with equal
vigor. From 1861 to 1865, many thousands
of soldiers professed Christ as their
Savior and Lord, and many more were
renewed in their commitment to serve God
in camp and battlefield.

Herein are recorded
stories of the heroism of chaplains who
stood in the line of battle to minister to
the fallen and to work at the bedside of
fatally ill comrades. Some of the army
pastors were themselves counted among the
slain. It tells of worship services in
camps attended by ten, a hundred, or a
thousand men gathered to hear the Word of
God expounded. Here, too, we read of the
Christian generals who supported the many
facets of Gospel work: Robert E. Lee,
Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, and others.
Hardback. 624 pgs. By J. William
Jones.]

Q&A

I certainly hope that you
will consider adding this book to your
reading list. I think it's a wonderful
read. Thank you all very much. Questions
or comments?